Robert Minato looks at what is available in navigation software for turning a laptop computer into a navigation device. When I started to research for this article, I was confronted by a multitude of software applications from around the world. Where to start? My intention was to source a selection of locally available software, install on my laptop and review and compare the different software available in Australia. That turned out to be harder than I first thought.

While there are lots of software applications available, often there is no local distributor. For this article, I wanted to use software available and supported here. Don't get me wrong Ð I'm not criticising overseas software, but I needed some limits and preferred to concentrate on software available locally. With the ready access to internet shopping, I'm sure many of you have already made overseas purchases. If you find software that you prefer to use from an overseas supplier then go for what suits you.

RayTech RNS 6.1 is for Marine navigation. Sonar, Radar, Chart Plotting, AIS, et al. RNS 6.1 integrates with Raymarine hardware which allows the user to plan trips.

There were also some local distributors who didn't have a 'demo' version for me to evaluate. This further limited the scope this article was to take, so I then decided to look at a couple of software packages and discuss the tyJust what does navigation software do and why do you need it? Navigation software enables a computer (normally a laptop) to perform the function of a chartplotter. With an attached GPS receiver, you will have the functions of a chartplotter at your fingertips.

You can plot waypoints and routes to set up a plan of where you want to go, you can observe your position on the electronic chart as you sail, and you can save both your planned route and the actual route taken. You'll also be able to do a lot more, as I'll explain throughout this article. Route plan Most applications will be able to provide a route plan. A route plan is a record of what your route is, showing coordinates, distances, bearings and time to each waypoint as well a cumulative time and distance to your destination. Sailing will be a real test for route planning because yachts don't always take the direct route to each destination. For example, tacking into the wind will require continual route plan updating to be meaningful.

Memory-map only provides a fixed route plan, based on your estimate of speed, formatted for printing that displays the route plan. Some programs continually update themselves to allow for changes in speed or course deviation to keep you informed based on current speed and direction. Any route plan is only as good as the data being fed in currently and can only predict data on what is being input now; not being able to predict and plan for future conditions. If you are motoring, the data will be close for the whole trip whereas yachts will vary their speed and course quite often. At least a route plan will give you an estimate of time if you don't want to calculate it yourself. Most systems allow easy creation of a route plan; just click where you want each waypoint.

Once the route is entered, activate the route and follow. You may be able to connect the navigation software to an autopilot and follow the route automatically, rather than just follow the lines on the screen. Weather routing One of the optional, and very useful features, is weather routing.

This is the ability to download (via email a file known as a 'grib') a weather forecast for the planned area of sail and calculate a course based on the polar plot (your yacht's speed for all compass directions) of your yacht to optimise your speed over a route. This facility uses forecast windspeed and direction to keep your boat on course to maintain the best sailing conditions to get you to the destination. You have the option to set the maximum wind speed you want to sail in, as well as any exclusion zones (eg rocks, land) where you want to avoid. Chart/route printing Navigation software is an aid to your navigation. It's not recommended, or wise, for you to rely only on software charts.

You must still carry paper charts. Navigation software can give you options to print copies of charts to use or to print a copy of the route on a chart. These can be of some use in saving your good paper charts from wear. Chart orientation We all like to do things differently.

Some like to have north at the top of the screen while others like their direction of travel to be up the screen. See if the software has what you prefer: course up, chart up, true north or magnetic north up. Torrent Download Microsoft Office 2007 With Crack on this page. You may even be able to rotate the charts. Tides and currents Tides are often a consideration when planning your route.

Will there be enough water for you to navigate into that harbour, what will the current be like? Some packages include tide and current predictions as standard, some may be an optional extra and some won't have it so consider whether you need it. You may find it handy to have tide predictions readily available on screen rather than have to find your paper tide table, if you have one.

Day and night displays Looking at a bright screen at night won't do you night vision any good so you should consider day/dusk/night settings that change screen colour/brightness to something easier on the eyes in different light conditions. Man overboard Nearly all GPS receivers have a MOB button for you to easily mark a MOB incident, but you can also mark a position if your navigation software supports it. Alarms The ability to mark certain features as zones (eg exclusion zones) or entry/exit zones can alert you to certain navigation features that may assist your confidence in navigation. Customisable displays Some software can display a vast array of information and various features.

If you don't need too much info or are new to the software, it can be easier to turn off or hide what you don't want. The ability to customise the screen information to suit just what you need will certainly make life easier.

Ruler There are many times when you want to do a quick distance measurement between two points on the chart. Some software allows you to click on two points and show the distance and bearing between the points. While it is easy to do on your paper charts, being able to do it on the screen while planning a route may be desirable. Charts If you are purchasing a navigation system for the first time, then the charts that come with, or are available for, the software are all you need worry about. If you already have charts on a card, or some other format, then you probably won't want the expense of buying new charts if your old ones are still okay. Check that the software is compatible with your old charts.

Learning to use it As with anything new to you, you'll have to learn how to use it. If you've never used navigation software before, or are new to computing, you'll have to go through the learning process. At the minimum, you'll want a help system incorporated into the software -- that way you'll be able to use the help function any time. Other help may be found in tutorial CD/DVDs and online. CD/DVD tutorials can still be used on a yacht because most computers have a CD or DVD reader.

Online help isn't much good on a yacht if you can't connect online. Learning to use the software is most important, but do so before you go sailing. AIS Some of the software packages are based on the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) ECDIS Electronic Chart Display and Information System standards. This means that it can integrate electronic charts, GPS and Automatic Identification System (AIS) to provide a complete voyage planning and vessel-monitoring function. Google Earth If you've never seen Google Earth you've missed a great way to get a bird's-eye view of somewhere on the earth's surface. You'll really need a broadband connection for this free application.

Use it to view that marina you're planning to visit. While not current (it can be a few years old), it shows really good images of locations around the world. Some of the navigation packages allow a Google Earth map to be shown on a split screen or overlaid over the navigation software chart. NMEA connection An NMEA connection is the cable between laptop and GPS that allows the data transfer to take place so your navigation software works.

Many new laptops do not have a nine-pin D-sub connector common to many GPS units; you'll need a USB to Serial adapter (and then potentially have set-up problems to worry about). Some newer GPS receivers have a USB connection, but check that it will support GPS (NMEA) navigation because most USB connections are only for loading waypoints, tracks and routes between GPS and computer. Minimum system requirements Most computer users will be familiar with minimum system requirements. It's the minimum specification your computer will need to meet to run the software. Often it's better to look for the recommended system requirements because often the minimum will leave you with a system that runs slowly. If you are a Mac user, make sure the software is compatible for your system. Which is right for you?

Which system is right for you? That's a question I can't answer.

We all have differing needs and wants. For many cruisers, price will weigh heavily, but you need to determine what you want and look around at pricing to see what features are included with each package. Don't forget to factor in the cost of charts. If you don't have an internet facility on your yacht, then features like Google Earth and weather routing probably aren't much use today, but what about the future? Driver Epson Lq 2180 Win 7 32 Bit.

Some of the packages come in different versions that offer more features as the price goes up. Happy sailing. Robert Minato has worked in the electronics field all his working life and now teaches technology subjects at Catholic College Wodonga. He and wife Shirleen enjoy sailing Blue Mist, their Noelex 25, mostly on Lake Hume when there is enough water.

Some features of MaxSea Recreational and AIS: * MapMedia mm2 raster charts * BSB compatible * C-Map compatible * Unlimited waypoints and routes * Route plan information * Follow active route * Unlimited waypoints layers (to keep your screen un-cluttered) * Print chart and route plan * Overview of vessels transmitting AIS signals.